This Sunday you can enjoy free admission to Florida State Parks to celebrate Recreation and Parks Month. Don't miss the opportunity to take advantage of the spectacular parks our great state has to offer. Volusia and Flagler Counties have several great parks to choose from.
With so many things to do at our state parks the whole family can find something to do. Where do I begin....boating, canoing, kayaking, fishing, picnicking, walking and hiking trails, biking trails, beaches. Maybe you'll get a glimpse of some of the rare birds we have. I have actually spotted two black panthers once while cycling near the North Penisula State Park. Absorb what mother nature has given us to enjoy. Visit one of our wonderful State Parks for free this Sunday.
Still don't know how you will be celebrating the nation's birthday? Well, dig out that cheesy star-studded, red, white and blue t-shirt from your drawer, because I've put together a list of the top five places to be in Daytona Beach. You're sure to find something from this list to make your 4th sparkle!
FOUR CORNERS - ORMOND BEACH, FLORIDA Looking for a great way to celebrate with friends & family this July 4th? Look no further than Ormond's historic "Four Corners". Festivities are planned by both the Ormond Historical Trust (at the Anderson Price Building on Beach Street, 1 ½ blocks north of Granada) and by The City of Ormond Beach on all four corners of the Granada bridge. The Trust's event kicks off at 4 pm with a magician and clown, family activities and a Dixieland band as an "Old Fashioned Lawn Party". The City will continue the celebration beginning at 6 pm, and will feature a "Patriotic Kids Corner" with games and inflatables, as well as live music. The evening will culminate with the City's Fireworks display, scheduled to begin at 9:30 pm. For more information call The Ormond Beach Historical Trust at 386-677-7005 or the City's Leisure Services Department at 386-676-3241.
CINEMATIQUE UNDER THE STARS Downtown Daytona Beach features The Wizard of Oz in their retro film series. Bring a picnic and lawn chairs (or get really old-fashioned and bring a blanket), and enjoy this American classic at City Island Park, 115 E. Orange Ave., Daytona Beach. No charge! For more information, call 386-871-7873. Movie starts at dusk.
MAIN STREET JULY 4TH BLOCK PARTY & BARBEQUE To compliment the Boardwalk fireworks, Main Street is hosting an 8-block July 4th block party with a summer barbeque theme. In addition to traditional BBQ food vendors, an amateur BBQ competition will take place with prizes and trophies. The event begins at 6pm and ends at midnight. For more information, call 386-255-9300 or visit www.whog.fm.
RED, WHITE & BOOM at the FAMOUS DAYTONA BEACH BANDSHELL This event has it all...live music, children's games, simulator rides, and show car all in Oceanfront Park, beginning at 5pm. The evening's live entertainment will begin at 7:30pm and include opening act Last Call, a sponsor recognition and prize giveaways by WHOG's Frank Scott, a welcoming of the crowds by Mayor Ritchey, an introduction of Jeff Gordon with Q&A session, and a performance by POCO. Bring a lawn chair for seating but please leave the coolers at home because they are not allowed in the Bandshell. This is a FREE event, but donations are accepted.
CELEBRATE WITH FRIENDS This is actually my favorite thing to do on the 4th. Find a great friend's party to crash, and don't forget to bring a fabulous side dish to share. There's nothing like celebrating the great country we live in with the people who make your life happy.
The IRS increased the standard mileage deduction early this year. Instead of waiting until fall, the IRS upped the optional standard mileage deduction from 50.5 cents a mile to 58.5 cents a mile.
Within the last year our fuel prices have gone up over a dollar per gallon so the answer and their way to help is by raising the deduction 8 cents a few months early. Let's do the math. Gas prices have increased by 30 to 40% over the last year and the deduction increases 15%.
Is our government trying to justify our ridiculously high gas prices? Do they think that this makes it all better? I guess we need to take what we can get right now.
Why don't the we look at the real problem....Oil. I really find it hard to believe that the United States doesn't have the resources to do more to alleviate our oil problems. We really need to figure out some options.
We were sold that ethanol was the answer. Ethanol burns more inefficiently than gas and there is no real net benefit to using it. Ethanol uses the corn that we used for feed. Now the cost of meat and dairy has gone up. We need to admit that we made a mistake and look at other options.
I could go on for days about this. My original intent was to pass along the information about the mileage increase. This has really caused us to stop and think about where we need to drive. I am constantly on the go showing houses, previewing properties for clients and running here or there. My office is in my car. We have to stop and think twice before we just hop in the car and go.
I have been trying to get out of doing this. I was tagged by Midori Miller and she keeps asking if I did my Super 8 MEME, so here it is...
1. Who is your favorite musical artist (post a YouTube Video): This is really a hard one for me. It really depends on the day and the mood. I have to say that I love the classics; The Beatles, Elton John, Pink Floyd, etc... but then I may feel a little mellow like James Taylor, Norah Jones, Sarah McLachlin but then I may feel more like the blues with ALO, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan or maybe even a little poppy with Jon McLaughlin, The Goo Goo Dolls, Sister Hazel, One Republic, Colbie Caillat. Obviously I am confused here. My favorite right now has to be John Mayer.
2. Who is your favorite artist? (Post a Flickr photo) I would have to say Salvador Dali. You really have to wonder what was going on in that man's head.
3. Who is your favorite blogger? I owe this one to Midori Miller. I met her last year at our Technology Fair at our local board and she introduced me to ActiveRain. She really got me into blogging and taught me most everything I know about blogging (aside from what I have learned on AR). She is very up on what's new and what's next. She even got Bob Stewart from AR to come out to our Tech Fair this year, so I got to spend a night out with Bob. I can't thank her enough.
4. If you could meet anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and what is the most interesting thing about them?I am not someone that is really star struck by many people. I have met famous people and sports superstars but they are all just people. I would be more likely to pick someone that has lived for generations and been through a lot historically. I have to say that the most intriguing would have to be Jesus. Where would you begin?
5. What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be motorcycle racer. I rode motocross most of my childhood until I completely blew my knee out in high school. Once I realized that I couldn't make a career out of it, I moved towards engineering. I worked in engineering for Fellowes Mfg until I just couldn't handle corporate america any longer. My mother was a realtor and I had rental properties, so here I am. That was the best move I have made in my life, aside from moving from Illinois to Florida.
6. What is the most interesting piece of trivia you know? Humans shed and re-grow outer skin cells about every 27 days - almost 1,000 new skins in a lifetime.
7. If you could live in any point of history, what would it be and why? I have thought long and hard about this. There were definitely some interesting times in history but aren't we on the cutting edge now? I don't know if I could imagine life without my Treo or the internet. Travel by horse or train or a Model T across the country doesn't really excite me. I want to live tomorrow.
8. What is the most interesting job you have ever held? I didn't really bounce around much except when I was in high school and college. I have worked at a hardware store, as a caddie, in a motorcycle dealership, washed cars, cut grass, worked in manufacturing and engineering and then in real estate. The most interesting job was a project I worked on at Fellowes. I was asked to help try and make a gel computer wrist rest that didn't violate any existing patents and was better and more cost effective that what they were currently selling. I got to travel all over the country testing different squishy materials, go to the fashion district in New York City looking at different materials, and then once we figured out what to use, we had to figure out how to manufacture the product to meet the production demand that was in the millions per year. That was fun and very interesting. Wouldn't you know they just outsourced the job to China. That was when I quit and got into real estate.
Ok..the 8 victims are fromall over, some old friends, some new friends one I just picked out of one of my groups. Good luck!
Now don't tell me you don't have time just do it at your leisure! It probably took me two weeks to get around to doing mine. Ok everyone...tag you are it and don't forget to tag 8 people!
I just wanted to wish all the Dads out there a very Happy Father's Day. We need to thank all of our fathers (and mothers) for bringing us to where we are today.
Until I was a father myself, I really didn't realize how special being a parent was. People can tell you how it is to be a parent and tell you what you will experience when you become a father. When my daughter was born, my life was changed forever. I immediately melted and became a more caring and emotional person. New life is an incredible experience. There is a special place in my heart for Daddy's girl.
And then my son was born. Dylan is a mini me. He was riding a little Yamaha at the age of 3, with some influence of his father of course. I think he was born with a ball in his hand because he can't seem to stay away from anything or any sport that has a ball; football, baseball, basketball, soccer. Playing catch with my son reminds me of when I used to play catch with my father or my grandfather. This hopefully will continue on for generations to come.
It is up to us as parents to help mold our children to be the next leaders of the world. It will be up to them as it is up to us now to keep our world going. I think that people don't pay enough attention to our children. They don't know what is wrong or right, we have to teach them. They don't know what is healthy or not, we have to teach them. I think with technology and the open communication we have, people are more connected and working together to make our world a better place.
I want to thank my father and mother for making me who I am. I hope that I can take what I have learned from my parents and my experiences in life and teach my children to be better and to do more. Life is a continuous and evolving growth experience. You never stop learning and you never (literally) stop growing.
I am going to take the day off to spend some time with my family. We are going out on a friend's boat to Disappearing Island in Ponce Inlet to enjoy some fun in the sun. Have a great Fathers Day!
I have to say this has become a bigger debate than I thought. I was just trying to make a point about people presenting offers on multiple properties. I do feel bad that we were unable to get a deal together. I think that we did all that we could with what we had to work with.
After all was said and done it became apparent that the buyer really wanted another house. I realize that we really didn't have a deal and it didn't appear that it was ever meant to be.
This scenario could have played out numerous ways. The reality is that the deal didn't go together because the buyer really didn't want to buy our house. He wanted another house and he got what he wanted.
I am really passionate about my business and try to go above and beyond to do what is best for my clients. I have sold several hundred properties in my career, so it isn't like the first time something like this has happened. Each of these deals that don't work out are a learning experience for all. As long as we learn from our mistakes and use that experience to be a better agent in the future to hopefully benefit another client.
I did not go against my seller's wishes. My sellers wanted more money and they wanted me to try and get it for them. We were all in agreement of how we would play out the offer and planned several contingency options to use if we needed to.
Do we really ever know with exact certainty what a house will sell for or if a buyer on the other side will come up a little higher? We really don't. We take our knowledge of the market and look at an offer on paper, not knowing the buyer on the other side of the deal and what their true intentions are and try to help our seller make what we feel is the right decision. Sometimes that works out and sometimes it doesn't.
It is correct that unless a counter offer is in writing it is not enforceable. It typically takes more than just faxing back a piece of paper with a number on it to get a deal together. If it was that easy, we wouldn't be here.
In hindsight maybe we should have taken the offer. I understand that the buyer was just trying to get a deal. I also understand that the seller wants to sell but....they fealt that the offer was really a low ball offer and weren't initially inclined to consider it.
Has anyone in real estate ever had a seller look at an offer and say "that is ridiculous. They have to come up higher. Can't we get more?" and then in the same breath say, "Just sell the house."
We are all in this together and it is with a community like ActiveRain that we can all work together to make our industry better. We have to look to the future and just do the best we can.
Luxury exudes throughout this custom Paytas built estate home situated on one acre in Rolling Hills Estates in Port Orange. Custom features & attention to detail are found throughout this fine home, from the architectural columns & dentil molding outside with front & rear porches to the archways, 10 ceilings, crown molding & chair rail inside. Upon entering you are drawn into the great room with built-in entertainment nook & fireplace. The ceramic tile continues into the exceptional kitchen boasting 42 custom cherry cabinetry with crown molding, black granite countertops, stainless steel appliances including double oven & wine cooler, a breakfast bar area & breakfast nook with great views of the yard & cabana. You will also find a formal dining room & office with double French doors. The master retreat offers a huge sitting area, a large walk-in closet with custom organizers & an exceptional master bath. This split plan offers 3 more bedrooms on the main floor with a jack & jill bath, walk-ins & a pool bath. Upstairs you will find the 23x16 5th bedroom/bonus room set up for entertaining with surround sound & full bath. The back yard offers a large covered patio, room for a huge pool & cabana with exercise room, a cherry & granite kitchen & fire pit. Additional outstanding features include pumped foam concrete insulation & $8000 in home entertainment wiring. Are you looking for a pool, we are offering $30,000 towards the custom pool of your choice.
You will truly love this beautiful all-brick home located in Castlegate with many new updates. This home offers a very open floorplan with cathedral ceilings and arches thruout. New wood floors were just installed in the living room and dining rooms. Light fixtures were updated and the interior was freshly painted. The family room features new carpet and vaulted ceilings with access to the 19x11 covered patio and fenced yard. Large eat-in kitchen comes complete with breakfast bar, over-sized pantry and newer appliances including side-by-side refrigerator. All bedrooms contain new carpet, fresh paint and new ceiling fans. The master bedroom offers cathedral ceilings with fan, new carpet and slider to back yard and a second patio. Master bath offers dual-vanities and a walk-in closet. You can also enjoy the new water filtration system that was recently installed. This great home is located right by the 170 acre Central Park with fishing lakes, tennis, basketball & miles of walking paths and just 10 minutes drive to beach.
Tropical Ponce Inlet Home Across the Street From the Ocean
Location: Ponce Landing
If you ve been searching for the ultimate Florida lifestyle, you ve found your home. Located in pristine Ponce Inlet between the ocean and the intracoastal waterway, this wonderful custom built 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home with 3 car garage, covered entryway, lanai and private screened pool is a must see. This home sits directly across the street from the beach and offers beach access via a Volusia County Park with lifeguard and full amenities. Both the neighborhood and home feature lush tropical landscaping and serene views. An open and spacious floor plan offers easy access to all living areas and includes lots of windows for natural light, Berber carpet, ceramic tile in foyer and wet areas, ceiling fans and upgrading lighting and fixtures. Living room features ceiling fan and hand-painted mural. Kitchen is light and charming with ample cabinet space, solid surface countertops, glass cooktop stove, microwave, dishwasher and ceramic tile floors. Master suite features sitting area with sliders opening to gorgeous pool and lanai. Master bath includes dual vanities with solid surface countertops, ceramic tile floors, private commode, jetted tub, fully tiled standup shower with bench and glass doors. 2nd and 3rd bedrooms are bright and spacious with ceiling fans and Berber carpet. Half-bath serves as pool bath. Call Ian today at 386.214.5290 to arrange a showing.
I woke up Saturday morning and the first thing that came to mind is...What about Bob? Actually it was more like, where is Bob's laptop?
I had the great pleasure of spending two days with Bob Stewart from ActiveRain. What a wealth of information. Thanks Midori for getting Bob to come to Florida!
Does this picture look familiar? Thanks Midori.
There is so much to talk about, I don't know where to begin. I'll try to be brief. First of all, Bob got me back on the horse. I have been quiet on AR for some time and I am getting back into the game.
We were privileged enough to have Bob come out and speak at the Daytona Beach Area Association of Realtors "Got Tech" technology fair. As the Chairman of the Tech Committee I want to thank Bob on behalf of all the local real estate professionals that were able to hear him talk about what ActiveRain can do for your business. He was definitely the celebrity presenter.
I did what I could to whine and dine him and show him how we do open houses in Florida. Aswin Suri in our office had an open house for a spec home on the ocean in Ponce Inlet. Plenty of food and drinks to go around and who wouldn't like spending the evening in a $2,000,000 house on the beach. The ocean breezes.....Livin' By The Beach. It's a good life!
I just wanted to thank Bob for coming out to Daytona. I think it was a win win for all. He was able to spread the word about AR and grow the community. I am so grateful for the time we spent at the Tech Fair and on the way to the airport just talking about blogging. There are so many little tips and nuances that can really make a difference. I got a two day crash course in AR blogging.
I think Bob was really digging Florida. I think ActiveRain needs to open a branch office in the Daytona area.
Livin' By The Beach is what it's all about. Ian Anderson with The Dream Homes Team is here to offer you his insight and experience of living the lifestyle you have always dreamed of in the greater Daytona Beach Area.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
I did what I could to whine and dine him and show him how we do open houses in Florida. Aswin Suri in our office had an open house for a spec home on the ocean in Ponce Inlet. Plenty of food and drinks to go around and who wouldn't like spending the evening in a $2,000,000 house on the beach. The ocean breezes.....Livin' By The Beach. It's a good life!
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